Residents reassured as earth diggers move in

The machinery arrived on Mondayon the land to the north of North Bersted Street and east of the A259 Chichester Road to carry out tests.

These are designed to make sure archaeological and ecological interests in the area are protected during building.

The programme of work will last up to nine weeks but residents have been advised it does not represent the start of the development, known as policy site six, nor does it require planning permission.

Cllr Norman Dingemans, in charge of Arun's cultural and economic development services, said: 'We don't want anyone to be concerned by the sight of a digger on the site or to mistakenly think building has started.

'This is something we have asked the developers to do as part of the preliminary planning stage and is normal procedure on a major development such as site six.'

Digging machinery and a small boring rig will be carrying out small scale works such as the digging of trial pits and test boreholes.

The need to carry out the work was part of the initial planning permission for the development granted to Berkeley Homes by the government.

The tests are standard practice on large scale development sites.

They will be conducted across various locations within the planning site but they will focus on the areas where houses and the relief road are expected to be built.

The developers for the site, two-thirds owned by Berkeley Homes and a third by the Church Commissioners, must still submit a planning application to Arun District Council which covers the final details about the site.

Of the 650 homes approved, 195 will be '˜affordable'. Other aspects of the development are a community hall, three sports pitches and public open space.

Options for a school, if the West Sussex Local Education Authority agrees, and a possible health centre depending on a decision by the Western Sussex NHS Primary Care Trust are also included.